IfNotNow's Simone Zimmerman new B’Tselem U.S. director
Zimmerman was named one of 'The Jerusalem Post's "50 Most Influential Jews," this past Jewish New Year, and is well-known for co-founding the organization IfNotNow.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFSimone Zimmerman, a co-founder of If Not Now,(photo credit: REUTERS)
B’Tselem announced Simone Zimmerman as its new US director on Tuesday.“As a Jewish activist who has worked for years to challenge my own community's denialism about the reality of the occupation, I am excited to take on my new role at B'Tselem USA," Zimmerman said. "I hope to deepen the partnership between the anti-occupation movements working on the ground and those working here in the USA.”Zimmerman was named one of The Jerusalem Post's "50 Most Influential Jews," this past Jewish New Year, and is well-known for co-founding the left-wing organization IfNotNow, a group dedicated to "opposing the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip."“At a time when U.S. foreign policy emboldens further occupation, oppression, and dispossession of Palestinians, the voice of Americans opposing this reality is more important than ever before," B’Tselem Director Hagai El-Ad said. "Simone’s principled voice and demonstrated leadership give hope for those who believe in a future based on justice – and in working steadfastly towards realizing it”.Zimmerman gained notoriety in 2016 for being hired as former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’s national Jewish outreach coordinator. Profanity-laced Facebook posts from Zimmerman prompted her summary dismissal. She wrote of Israel’s prime minister, “F– you, Bibi” and equated him with a murderer.B’Tselem's stated goals are to "document human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied territories" and "combat denial of the existence of such violations."Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
